Almost 4 years ago I lost my dear friend Jessica as a result of her lifelong battle with Muscular Dystrophy. Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic condition that results in weakening and deterioration of muscles in the body.

Jessica spent her whole life in a wheelchair, watching others experience things she knew she never could. Fortunately, she was born into the most amazing family ever! They never ever let “disability” impact her experiences in life (or her brother’s, who also has MD). They took several family vacations, included her in community events, had wild and crazy parties at their house, and even had the courage to send her off to Central Michigan University where she nearly completed her Master’s degree.

When you hear the word “special” it can mean many things, in the case of my son, Jacob, it means living in a world that is truly his own and helping him cope with the world around him. Jacob has a genetic abnormality. He is missing a piece of his 4th chromosome, which has led to cognitive and developmental delays. Along with the chromosomal abnormality, Jacob exhibited autistic tendencies and was later diagnosed with Autism.

While an emerging area, the field of “Disability Ministry” is still in its infancy. However, at Ability Ministry, we are proud to say that we have been actively reaching out to the disability community for over 30 years! Our non-profit roots reach back all the way to 1981, when one man saw a need and decided to do something to meet that need. To this day we are working diligently to continue to meet need here in America – and beyond.

The mission of Ability Ministry is to “equip and empower disability ministry for churches, families, and individuals affected by disabilities helping them to become who God has created them to be.”

Thuy and Grace’s early experiences as parents to their daughter, Avery, were exactly as they’d imagined. Just like any other new family, they were proud of the accomplishments and milestones that they saw in their daughter. They were also hopeful for her future.

However, at 10 months old, Thuy and Grace discovered that Avery had a recessive genetic mutation which left her with significant loss of hearing. “It was a tremendous shock as neither of us knew anyone who was deaf in our respective families. After countless exams, emotional conversations, and advice from numerous professionals, we decided to surgically implant her with cochlear implants” the couple explained.